January 3, 2010

•  

  Reminiscing.....

  "Count your blessings, name them one by one....." as the song says.

  I chose three blessings from 2009 to highlight. Did you ever find yourself, in the middle of dusting your furniture, stopping and enjoying a few minutes (quite a few minutes!!) going through photo albums? That's what I'm doing today; I'm not dusting but enjoying some experiences through memories and pictures. Hope you'll enjoy walking alongside me as I reminisce.  

   

  You will remember we visited our Colorado family in May. We had time together at their home and then we try to do one or two extra special things with the grandchildren. Last year was their first full year in CO. Since it was our first visit we thought it would be nice for Brian, Donna, and the children to get away from chores and for all of us to relax away from home. Brian and Donna did the searching for us and found a wonderful little place in Westcliffe. If you've been in Westcliffe, you know how breathtaking it is....snow-capped mountains in June! Brian and Donna heard of a hunter's cabin there.  Would you believe he is our neighbor here in PA!   We stayed there for 2 1/2 days...cost $40. a night for eight of us!! It was so very special and therefore we thought we would try this "time away" again this year.

   

  

   We asked Brian and Donna if they would search again. They found places that sounded really special, like ranches, etc., but the prices were very high. Donna came upon a Bed and Breakfast - Hahn's Haven. It really caught her eye as that is her maiden name. After some research they were impressed and found the price very reasonable.

  I must tell you as we were driving and getting closer and closer to our new destination, I was becoming more nervous. Our grandchildren are precious but are  very, very energetic, precious grandchildren. I was trying to imagine four ALIVE children IN a Bed and Breakfast for two nights and three days!!! The Bed and Breakfasts I have seen were not really childproof! May I tell you, it was Father-planned!!  (This is the innkeeper's house  and creek behind our family.)

   

   

   

  

  Melody Ann Hahn has four dogs in the house and we brought four children!  EVERY waking minute, except for watching one DVD and eating meals,  the children played with these dogs taking them for a walk or throwing sticks in the creek for the two larger dogs to retrieve. We were welcomed and blessed by this dear innkeeper! She had leashes for the two little dogs. The children were dressed early in the morning and out the door taking these dogs for a walk and playing with the large dogs. (Our grandchildren do not have a dog at home.) I truly think the dogs missed them when we left for home.

   

   

  

  Mrs. Hahn loves animal - all sizes, shapes, and forms! The above picture is a kitten she rescued and as you see it is surviving by being bottle-fed. She saw Kelly's gentleness and allowed her to enjoy this feeding time.

   

   

   

  

  Friday morning we left the dogs behind as all of us looked forward to the day ahead - fishing and hiking. I was captured with the beauty around us! Today, this first Sunday morning of the new year, our sermon was about creation and my mind went back to this beauty - displayed as far as the eye could see.

  Grandpa is assisting Bradley.

   

   

  

  Bradley chose this spot.

   

   

   

  

  I know a fisherman endures challenges weather-wise, etc. I was wondering how long Brent would use this small rock as his seat.  The fish were not biting well so that took some of the joy away for a young fisherman although I was impressed the way the children persevered.

   

   

   

  

  Isn't this scenery beautiful!

  And I love His creation through His gift to us by the name of Tori.

   

   

   

  

  Donna enjoyed catching up with a good book and taking pictures!

   

   

  

  This is just one of my favorite pictures - the view of the mountains, Brian in the foreground, and Kelly sitting on her little green chair to fish!  (I guess most of them are favorites or I wouldn't have them on here. )

  "Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

  For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

  Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. (Oh, I am so grateful for this blessing!) Psalms 95:1-7

   

  

  This is what we did when Kelly grew tired of fishing! This was my joy!

  The weather was very interesting - we would have sweatshirts on for awhile and then they were off.....soon back on again. I hear that is quite typical of Colorado.

   

   

  

  Brian was the only one who had the joy of a catch - 12" rainbow trout.

   

   

   

  

  After some snacking for lunch, we headed for this trail some distance away. I was hoping you could read this as it is an interesting story.

   

   

  

  The children were in the foreground leaving the oldies in the dust.....

   

   

  

  .....except Kelly! She kept asking her Daddy to carry her. Some of those rocks you needed your hands to balance! I love hiking; the beauty around us just added to the joy. Then to be with Brian, Donna, and the children made it extra meaningful. I miss them; it is fresh on my mind having just come through Christmas. I know some of you experience loved ones' absence also.

   

  

  These are our "active" grandchildren I was talking about!   That was a steep climb but all the more fun for them.

   

   

  

  After returning to Hahn's Haven, Nevin and I wanted to leave the family have some time to themselves so we did some driving in the direction of this old ghost town. Most of the way was dirt road.

   

   

   

  

  The sign above the door says, "Bed and Breakfast!" I'm thankful we can go back to Mrs. Hahn's home!

   

   

   

  

  Someone is around here although when we were there it was deserted. The hummingbirds are being taken care of. There was another feeder with six or more hummingbirds enjoying their liquid meal.

   

   

   

   

  

  We had our supper planned around Mrs. Hahn's campfire. Since she advertises as Bed and Breakfast, we did not want to ask to eat inside. And we all enjoyed this outdoor meal. We did have a healthy supper as Brian did some grilling but the children looked forward to the smores.

   

   

  

  It was soon time to think about sleeping as we had another full day ahead of us but we enjoyed talked with Mrs. Hahn as she has traveled a lot and told many stories of her experiences..... a very interesting lady. She just blessed us. She offered the children to sleep on the floor in their sleeping bags and air mattress' - therefore did not charge for them....only for their breakfast. I was so impressed how this place turned out to be a wonderful blessing for Brian, Donna, and the children. I'll continue a bit later with our Saturday activities.  Don't you praise the Lord for your camera!! Pictures bring to mind, in a moment,  joys experienced! Sad to say, I can forget to be thankful for my camera.

   

   

  • 4:27 pm
  • 13 Comments